Proper Kitchen Cabinet Knob Placement

If you are installing new kitchen cabinets or giving your cabinets a makeover, you may be wondering where exactly to install the knobs. In the past, placing the knobs (or handles) directly in the middle was common, which unfortunately did not help the cabinet doors open with ease. Today, however, the most common and proper placement is where the knobs are both aesthetically pleasing and most functional.

(Gabriel Garcia/Demand Media)

Visit other people's homes and notice where their kitchen cabinet knobs are located. Carry a measuring tape with you to measure specifics, and keep notes of which placements look best and which ones are easiest to open. Draw pictures if desired. Once you've made your decision, use a pencil to mark where you're going to place your knobs. Then place some sticky clay on the back of each knob and temporarily put them on your cabinets on top of the pencil marks. Stand back and look at your cabinets to make sure all the knobs are uniform and look nice.

Gabriel Garcia/Demand Media

Generally, your knobs should be installed where you can open your cabinets with as much ease as possible. For top cabinets, measure 2 1/2 to 3 inches from the bottom on the edge opposite the hinge. If you are tall, then make it slightly higher. If you are short, then slightly lower. The idea is to place the knobs within reach so you can open the cabinets without difficulty. The distance from the bottom of the cabinet to the knob is the exact distance you should use on the bottom cabinets; however, this time, you measure from the top of the cabinet and go down.

To know how far to go in toward the center from the edge, use your best judgment. Usually, you should measure 1/4 to 1/2 inch in toward the center. If you have a decorative raised panel or a design along the perimeter of your cabinets, then center the knob inside that raised panel or between the design and the edge. Again, measure the same distance inward for both the bottom and top cabinets.